This Saturday is Sweetest Day. Although some think of it as a second Valentine’s Day, Sweetest Day is actually a day meant to celebrate all the people who make your life special. It’s an occasion to make someone happy, a chance to celebrate and give gifts to relatives, friends, associates or shut-ins.
Often Herbert Birch Kingston, who was a local candy company employee, receives credit as the founder of Sweetest Day in 1922. But there is evidence that a committee of 12 Ohio confectioners declared Sweetest Day on October 8, 1921. Since Mr. Kingston’s motivation was purely philanthropic in nature I’d like to think he’s the one that got the holiday right as he sought to bring cheer and some happiness to the lives of those who were often forgotten. With the help of his friends; actresses Theda Bara and Ann Pennington, he began distributing candy and small gifts to children living in orphanages, those stricken with illness or disabilities, shut-ins, and others who were forgotten.
Boss’s Day was Wednesday. In year’s past it had always been on Sunday, which I found strange. Finally they moved the holiday to a weekday and I think quite a few of us missed it. Hopefully this oversight won’t give rise to the nation’s unemployment figures!
There are always lots of events slated around any holiday and Sweetest Day is no exception. The Versailles Marching Band Invitation is this Saturday at HB Hole Field starting at 10:30 am there will be 13 bands participating. Trinity Lutheran Church is having their Annual Hog Roast on Saturday from 4 – 7 p.m. Versailles United Methodist Church is having a Chicken Dinner drive-thru on Sunday from 11:30 am – 1:30 p.m. Congrats to the Versailles Band- 1st place in their class and a superior rating that qualifies them for State! And good luck on hosting the Band Invitational. Also congratulations to the Girls Golf Team who competed at the state level. The girls finished twelfth out of 12 teams and since there were 152 teams competing to go to state, it was an incredible feat.
Tonight is the last home football game. It is also parent’s night. The game begins at 7:30 p.m. against Minster.
The Versailles Museum will be open from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m. every Sunday in October. The museum committee is also looking for sports and band memorabilia, especially the early years of football, baseball, basketball and marching band if you can help they would love to hear from you. Next Saturday, October 27, is the 12th Annual Versailles Athletic Booster Dinner/Auction which will be held at the School Cafetorium. This is a great event that benefits Versailles athletics. It is guaranteed to be a great evening with a buffet style dinner, fabulous auction items and lots of socializing. Doors open at 5:30 pm, dinner starts at 6:30. For tickets contact Cathy Peters at 937-214-2974 or email her at cathyapeters@hotmail.com.
Also next Saturday the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will hold their annual Food drive starting at 9 am. Starting on Wednesday the 24th the scouts will pass out yellow plastic bags to each Versailles resident. Interested residents are asked to place the filled bags in a visible location, such as their front porch. Items should be non-perishable goods in non-glass containers.
Congratulations to Mark Voisard you recently retired from the Village after 30 years of service. Enjoy!
Congratulations to the Winery at Versailles who will be celebrating their 10th anniversary by having an open house this Saturday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Stop by and wish Carol and Mike Williams well.
Healing prayers and get well wishes to Jerry Paulus, Red Kremer, Cecilia Subler, Rusty Whittaker, Donna Francis, Gus Barga, Delbert Grilliot, Denny Petitjean, Bonnie Frantz, Linda Fridley, Melissa Waymire, Elsje Rodenburgh, Tom Henry, Tony Monnin, Sandy DeLaet, Dan Dodson, Crystal Homan, Mark Harleman, John Magoto and all those in need that are not mentioned by name but in need of prayers. Hello to Judy Grow, Chloe Warvel, Kaila Barga, Dick Headley, Joann Ingle, Sara Alexander, Polly Grow, Shelly Acker, and Jim Deeter. Happy Birthday wishes to Virginia Goubeaux, Jacob Treon, Chris Beasley, Jane Mumaw, Lela Munn, Angie Hoelscher, Jerry Gasquez, Hayden Miller, Diana Subler, Deb Ward, Jennifer Monnin Shields, Amy Hoying, Carrey Whittington, Stacy Poeppelman, Mike Kelch, Rick McKinley, Marilyn Bensman and Robin Brown. Happy anniversary wishes to Jessica and Nick Groff (6), Lori and Doug Davidson (19), Joan and Mike Bergman, and Joanne and Louis Bohman (50). My heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of Julie Hiatt and John Adkins, also remembering the lives of Harold Phlipot, Gary Kimmel, Armella Steinke, Tony Keller, Vivian Stormer, Doris Townsend, Ralph Schmidt, Lowell Marshall, Lucille Alexander, Robert Grillot, Dianna Mong, Lucille McClurg, Louella Kitzmiller, John Gasson, Red Mescher, Stacey Freshour, Betty Armaceda, Alvina Schieltz, Jeff Harden, Doris Isenhower, Kenneth Wulber, Bill Hawkey, Betty Grilliot, Waldo Barga, Janny Rindler, Robert Vonenhuevel, and Slim Wehrkamp as the anniversary of their departure from this world approaches.
“A kiss makes the heart young again and wipes out the years.” ~Rupert Brooke
“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” ~Audrey Hepburn
“Where there is love there is life.” ~Mahatma Gandhi
Kathy Magoto is a volunteer citizen columnist, who serves Daily Advocate readers weekly with her weekly Versailles community column. She can be reached at magmon1@embarqmail.com or at 526-3798. Feel free to contact her with Versailles news and tidbits. Viewpoints expressed in these opinion pieces are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.